Not being taken seriously

I have been experiencing lately people who don't take me or my diagnosis seriously - especially right now that I am relatively stabil, active, and appear to be finding some enjoyment in life.

Seeing me in my present state makes them assume that I am either not sick at all, never was, or am cured. They don't seem to realise that periods of stability tend not to last and are usually accompanied by an inevitable crash.

People are seeing me these days spending a great deal of time being active and right now rather happy. They mistakenly assume I am ready to return to work. Indeed, several have told me I should be doing so. Frustrating. They don't realise that work is a major trigger (I live with PTSD too). They also don't realise that being bipolar means I live with a tenuous hold on stability and that my mood can turn on a dime. Just because today I am capable of holding my head up high with confidence doesn't mean that is a permanent situation. It also doesn't mean that confidence extends to all areas of my life these days.

Even thinking about work is a trigger to the negative. I get anxious, I get depressed, I get panic. So I throw myself into that which is positive, which gives me the strength to hang on, which gives me a source of joy.

And that is it. Just because I am demonstrating there is joy in my life does not make me a healthy individual.